Air Forces comparison: 
Germany vs 
Netherlands
Germany's air force fields 657 active aircraft — 4.5:1 Netherlands's 146.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Germany
Netherlands
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| Germany | Netherlands | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | German Air Force | Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 657 | 146 | 🇩🇪 4.5× |
| Aircraft on order | 334 | 48 | 🇩🇪 7.0× |
| Combat aircraft | 224 | 40 | 🇩🇪 5.6× |
| Combat share of fleet | 34.1 % | 27.4 % | 🇩🇪 1.2× |
| Aircraft types in service | 21 | 10 | 🇩🇪 2.1× |
| Main supplier | France · 31 % | United States · 70 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 290 | 67 | 🇩🇪 4.3× |
| Transport aircraft | 72 | 4 | 🇩🇪 18× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 4 | 0 | 🇩🇪 |
| Trainers | 2 | 13 | 🇳🇱 6.5× |
| UAVs | 65 | 22 | 🇩🇪 3.0× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · Germany
Fleet evolution · Netherlands
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, Germany or Netherlands?
Germany has more military aircraft with 657 active aircraft compared to Netherlands's 146, a difference of 511 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, Germany or Netherlands?
Germany has more combat aircraft with 224 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Netherlands's 40.
Which country has more military helicopters, Germany or Netherlands?
Germany operates more military helicopters with 290 compared to Netherlands's 67.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, Germany or Netherlands?
Germany has more transport aircraft with 72 compared to Netherlands's 4.
How do the Germany and Netherlands air forces compare in size?
Germany's air force is 18.0 times larger than Netherlands's in terms of total active aircraft (72 vs 4).
Which country has more aircraft on order, Germany or Netherlands?
Germany has 334 aircraft on order compared to Netherlands's 48.